Miniskirt taxi assault victim gets apology

Johannesburg - The taxi industry has finally apologised to a woman, three years after she was assaulted at a Johannesburg taxi rank for wearing a miniskirt, The Star reported on Thursday.

The SA National Taxi Association (Santaco) invited Nwabisa Ngcukana, 29, and her father, Samson, to the Wanderers' taxi rank for a Women's Day event on Wednesday, where they received a formal apology.

Drivers attacked and sexually assaulted her three years ago at the Noord Street taxi rank.

Santaco also issued a general apology to female commuters, who often received abuse from taxi drivers.

"We acknowledge that we as taxi drivers have been abusive to society and want to say sorry," Santaco spokesman Philip Taaibosch told the paper.

Ngcukana accepted the apology, saying it had taken the industry a long time to make it. Samson, 85, also accepted the apology.

"What has passed, has passed. The incident affected me a lot," he was quoted as saying.

Nwabisa Ngcukana however said she still experienced rude taxi drivers.

At the same taxi rank, two women, identified only as Zama and Nomthandazo, were attacked in December 2011.

Nomthandazo had worn a black miniskirt and Zama a black top with white bra straps showing. A group of men taunted them about their clothes while groping them, pulling at their clothing, and taking photos with their cellphones.

They took refuge in a shop until metro police rescued them. The perpetrators were never caught.

Comments

melusi.myaluza - 2012-08-09 16:07

April fool's in August,i think not!

squeegee.pilot - 2012-08-09 16:11

Give them 20 years and they may agree that there are rules of the road..

etienne.gerber.3 - 2012-08-09 16:15

How about the taxi industry apologising to the motoring public as well for their behaviour, that is regarded as extremely inconsiderate, on SA roads. Or for the deaths caused by errant drivers. Yet there are officials within the public service that want to justify their behaviour.

Hermann - 2012-08-09 16:37

Spin doctor diplomacy to mark the occasion, bunch of hypocrites.

judith.taylor.56 - 2012-08-09 16:47

Complete misogynistic behaviour - now are they going to change how they behave?

MukiCT - 2012-08-09 17:04

Wonder how those PIGS will feel if the same are done to their wives or daughters ...

okonkwo7 - 2012-08-09 17:07

I love my taxi drivers

okonkwo7 - 2012-08-09 17:15

Taxi drivers rock! Thanks for the apology magents

Harold Chisimba - 2012-08-09 17:26

SHE DESERVED COMPASATION NOT THAT TRIVIAL APOLOGY.

Harold Chisimba - 2012-08-09 17:31

This is Women's Day not April Fool Day,ok santaco? After full 36months coming with that so called FOMO APOLOOJEE for waat?

J.Stephen.Whiteley - 2012-08-09 17:51

Even after the Fall, Eve wore miniskirts.

neo.khemisi - 2012-08-09 20:04

Iyoooo.................mxm afta this remember when story broke I was....

Ayanda Mathunjwa - 2012-08-10 06:20

These taxi drivers are a bunch of thugs and they dont even pay tax, they responsible for half of the road accidents:(

christina.setloboko - 2012-08-10 10:08

Bomageza they look high all day, seems like what ever they smoking its affecting their brains period. wonder how long it will take to repeat same offense. they have no respect at all, but i guess they don't even know what respect is. i feel sorry for them..